The enigmatic scale (scala enigmatica) is an unusual musical scale, with elements of both major and minor scales, as well as the whole-tone scale. It was originally published in a Milan journal as a musical challenge, with an invitation to harmonize it in some way.

Overview

Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, who supposedly invented the scale[4][not in citation given] actually returned to composition with this, "arbitrary scale,"[5] in his "Ave Maria (sulla scala enigmatica)" (1889, revised 1898), in response to a challenge printed in the Milan Gazzetta musicale to employ a musical conundrum.[6] The "Ave Maria", compiled as part of the Quattro Pezzi Sacri (1898) [4 sacred pieces], has been described as, "that still almost incomprehensible into-one-another-gliding of harmonies over the entirely 'unnatural' scala enigmatica".[7] The piece features the scale both in its harmonies and as a cantus firmus throughout the short piece[8] in half-note values in the bass and then each successively higher voice accompanying, "queer counterpoint which...is far-fetched and difficult of intonation; [and] the total effect is almost, if not quite, as musical as it is curious".[3]

The scale, is as follows:

C, D♭, E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C

And has a formula of: 1 - ♭2 - 3 - ♯4 - ♯5 - ♯6 - 7.

With the musical steps as following: Semitone, Tone and a half, Tone, Tone, Tone, Semitone, Semitone.